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Alexander motivates Clarets

Graham Alexander believes Burnley can use their 6-1 defeat to Man City as motivation against Hull.

By Jamie Casey

Last Updated: 09/04/10 9:49pm

Burnley captain Graham Alexander believes they can use last week's humiliation at the hands of Manchester City to motivate themselves as they prepare to face Hull.

The Clarets were trounced 6-1 on at home by Roberto Mancini's side and found themselves five down without reply by the break.

Many fans left Turf Moor in disgust during the dreadful first-half display before they tightened things up in the second period.

The defeat means boss Brian Laws is walking a tightrope after 11 defeats in 13 Premier League games in charge and a win at the KC Stadium on Saturday is imperative for their survival hopes.

Now influential player-coach Alexander, 38, has called on his team-mates to use the loss to motivate their desire to make amends and rejuvenate the club's chances of staying in the top flight.

"It's good sometimes to keep it in the system because it can give you the chance to use it as a positive force," Alexander said.

"It's still inside me and I'm sure it's still inside most of the players and staff.

"We've got to use it going into the game on Saturday, knowing that we let ourselves down and everyone connected with the club and that we are not going to let it happen again."

Relegation battle

Another defeat will leave the Clarets six points adrift of the Tigers, who could rise out of the relegation zone should they collect all three points.

Burnley have the division's worst away record, with just one point in 16 games, and Alexander admits it has become somewhat of a psychological obstacle.

"It may have already become a mental problem months ago, I don't know," he said.

"We haven't won away from home and it is something we have to prove to ourselves and prove to other people - that we are still fighting to break that duck away from home. Come Saturday we have got to do it."

Meanwhile, Alexander insists there is no dressing room grudge against striker Kevin McDonald, who left the ground after being substituted at half-time during the City game.

The 21-year-old youngster was fined for his actions and issued an apology to the club and the fans and the club captain maintains it is water under the bridge.

"You learn lessons right through your career and Kev is only at the start of his," Alexander said.

"It's just a small mistake that he knows he has made and he's not trying to hide from it, so we go on from there.

"The lads have got nothing against him - he's a great lad around the changing room and he is still part of the group."